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Recovery of an MMO Junkie (Net-juu no Susume)

This is another anime series that I wanted to watch when it was first announced and then it got lost into the abyss. (I will never complete my backlog of reviews it seems like). I cranked this series out in a day because it’s only 10 episodes long with 1 OVA. Any anime that is between 10-13 episodes I’ll watch in one sitting.

Recovery of an MMO Junkie is about 30 year old Moriko Morioka who quits her job and becomes a fulltime NEET. I actually had to do some digging to find out what exactly ‘NEET’ meant. The most basic definition I could find was ‘not in education, employment or training’. To better explain it, think of the ‘adult who still lives with their parents’ trope. Except our protagonist lives alone, haha.

It’s the type of anime that is super relatable and I feel a number of people will appreciate it. It’s always fun gaming online and meeting people. You guys instantly connect as you have something to talk about by default. As time progresses you may become closer and even disclose things you wouldn’t normally with people in your everyday life. Afterall, you don’t have to anticipate someone’s facial expressions or pick up on their body language. Or in the case of Moriko, you don’t have any friends and you’re trying to fill the void of a friend you once had.

It was nice to see the character interaction and see how difficult it can be to interact with people in real life when you’re introverted, shy or have low self-esteem. I often feel like some people don’t realize that adults can have the same social anxieties like anyone else. Just because you get older doesn’t mean everything gets easier. For some trying to make friends/meaningful connections seems to get harder with age. I also enjoy this anime because it showcases adults gaming and they’re not fulfilling some off-putting stereotype that media tends to shine a light on. Overall, it was very pleasant and refreshing compared to a lot of anime out there that revolves around gaming.

I surprisingly enjoyed all the characters in this anime. Everyone had their own quirks but they all meant well in their own way. Moriko was my favorite as I relate to her to some degree. It can be a bit nerve wrecking to function in the “outside world” when you prefer to stay at home and game or binge watch television shows. Or you’re simply extremely introverted and tend to stick to yourself so human interact never really crosses your mind.

There were some touching moments when the love story begins to take center stage and you see that Moriko doesn’t have any self-worth which is a shame because she’s probably the most selfless character in this series. But isn’t that how it usually works? The one who doesn’t see themselves in a high regard is the person people tend to admire the most and wish they were more like them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this anime. It was short, sweet and to the point. There is a cute twist near the end of the series and it made me want to die. I’m not huge on “cute” anime but I do make exceptions if it’s done properly. Although my one complaint is there is no way Moriko was able to live out her life without having a damn job. She invested so much money into this MMO, upgraded her computer not once but twice, bought a bunch of clothing,etc. Unless she had a lot of money in her savings to sustain her for awhile then I don’t see how her lifestyle was even affordable without her working. Aside from that though, this anime series easily got a 10/10 from me.

Have you watched Recovery of an MMO Junkie? What are your thoughts on it?